The Chancellor is no longer welcome at a local boozer in her Leeds constituency as the landlords feel she is crippling pubs with her policies following Labour’s return to power
Rachel Reeves has been barred from her local boozer over her crippling tax rises for businesses.
Landlord Martin Knowles has slapped a ban on the chancellor enjoying a festive drink after being clobbered with a £2,500 hike in business rates.
Ms Reeves posed with Mr Knowles in the Marsh Inn in her Leeds constituency last year following Labour’s election triumph. However, the publican has now put up a sign stating that all Labour MPs, including Ms Reeves, are not welcome in the pub.
He said: “I thought I’d ban them all, including the local MP, as they are not doing our industry any favours at all. Our clientele seem quite happy with the ban.”
Mr Knowles’ wife Melanie insisted the chancellor “won’t get through the door again”, adding: “Every single day is a struggle for us.
“Other people are shutting the doors on these places and throwing the keys back because they can’t make a living any more.”
Hospitality bosses are livid with rocketing National Insurance costs and a hike in the minimum wage imposed by Reeves.
They have warned thousands could soon be serving last orders over the hikes which will see a typical pub’s taxes doubling by 2029.
Meanwhile, figures show nearly three boozers a week went bust in the six months to October – an 85% rise on the same period in 2024.
Mr Knowles has joined landlords across the country in banning Labour MPs over the tax increases.
TV host Jeremy Clarkson displays a “No Labour MPs” sign at his Cotswolds pub The Farmer’s Dog.
Meanwhile, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith raged: “Business rates hikes are hammering pubs with eye-watering increases.
“It is no wonder Rachel Reeves is barred from her local.”
A Treasury spokesman said: “We’re protecting pubs, restaurants and cafes with the Budget’s £4.3billion support package.
“This comes on top of our efforts to ease licensing to help more venues offer pavement drinks and put on one-off events, maintaining our cut to alcohol duty on draught pints, and capping Corporation Tax.”
He added there was also Government help to cap business rate bills for companies facing steep increases in their valuations.